• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"The offense of the cross..."

Text: Galatians 5:11b

GROSS MISREPRESENTATION

The apostle Paul knew that the false teachers would stop at nothing to promote their cause. They were not beneath misrepresenting him if they had the opportunity.

And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why
do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross
has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you
would even cut themselves off!

Galatians 5:11-12

1. “And I, brethren”

a) Paul continued to address his readers as “brethren”.

b) They were still close to his heart.

2. “If I still preached circumcision”

a) Once Paul preached circumcision too.

b) But this was before his conversion to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

c) His enemies portrayed Paul as still preaching circumcision.

d) The key word is “still”.

i) Was Paul still preaching circumcision?

ii) The answer was an obvious “No!”

3. “Why do I still suffer persecution”

a) The enemies of Paul persecuted Paul.

b) There were some who dedicated themselves to destroying his ministry if not Paul himself.

c) If Paul was still preaching circumcision would not the persecution have stopped?

d) He was not preaching circumcision and thus he continued to be persecuted.

4. “Then the offense of the cross has ceased”

a) The message of the cross was the heart of the gospel.

b) It was a gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ.

c) This message was an offense to the Judaizers who proclaimed a gospel of salvation by works.

5. Paul’s wish

a) He wished that these false teachers would be cut off!

b) Paul showed a very human side of himself when he expressed his disgust over these false teachers.